Tracker Lays The Groundwork For Colter's Ending Story

Published Oct 4, 2026, 11:00 PM EDT Antonella Gugliersi (she/them) has been a feature writer for Screen Rant since 2021. While studying for her bachelor’s in Economics & Management, they started writing about movies and TV shows for Turin-based The Unconventional Mag. After a brief internship at TPI, she decided she wanted to pursue journalism and graduated with a degree in International Journalism from Brunel University. Warning! SPOILERS ahead for Tracker season 4, episode 1.Tracker season 4’s premiere sneakily introduced the perfect ending for Colter’s story. Tracker’s return included everything that makes the series great, from cases chock-full of twists to thrilling action, and a change of setting too, for the TV show as a whole and Colter’s team specifically. Indeed, Tracker season 4, episode 1 introduced Reenie, Randy, and Mel’s new temporary office, whose proximity to Maxine’s has the potential to make her and Reenie’s bond even tighter, and showed off Tracker’s new home of Los Angeles through the case, after the momentous location change of season 4. Tracker’s astounding success makes thinking about its end superfluous at the moment. After all, the CBS procedural had an average of 8 million live viewers in seasons 1 to 3. Between those watching the series live and those tuning in within 30 days of the airing date, Tracker quickly became the most-watched scripted TV show, a record it still holds, which quashes any worry about the crime drama ending soon. However, with all stories having a beginning and an end, the time will eventually come for the CBS TV show, and Tracker season 4 set up the perfect ending storyline. Colter’s rewardist job has been at the story’s center since Tracker’s very beginning. While the existence of Tracker’s most complicated character, Billie, doesn’t make Colter the only rewardist in the series, the CBS drama made a point to highlight Colter’s preference to work alone, or at least not share the load with another rewardist if he could avoid it. Tracker season 4, episode 1 introducing a potential future mentee thus subverts a key established narrative in the best possible way. Colter Sets Up His Mentorship Of Charlie In Tracker MovieStillsDB Colter’s case in Tracker season 4, episode 1 wasn’t completely new in the sense that it wasn't the first time he was hired to find someone by their children. However, it was the first time a minor contacted Colter using subterfuge to secure his help to find his father. It was clear from the first moment that Colter met Charlie that he sympathized with him, seeing in his difficulties his past self, as Colter was the same age as Charlie when he lost his father and also had to care for his younger sister, Dory, after Ashton Shaw’s death. Beyond sympathizing with Charlie and seeing himself in him, Colter also recognized his potential. Indeed, although Colter didn’t let Charlie join in his investigation after he found out he had followed him, he was evidently impressed by Charlie’s quick thinking and his instincts. Colter even said so after he brought Sean and Stephanie back home. However, promising to meet again once Charlie finished school felt less like a deal to settle Charlie’s debt and more like an opportunity to teach him the ins and outs of the job. Before Tracker season 4’s premiere, Colter had never seemed interested in showing someone the ropes of being a rewardist, instead keeping his distance even from the friends who supported him daily. It’s clear that Charlie was motivated mainly by his desire to find his father, but, at the same time, he also showed interest in what Colter did. Colter’s advice to keep on trusting his gut effectively primes Charlie as a possible mentee for Tracker’s central character, warranting Charlie’s return in Colter’s life in the future. How Charlie's Potential Return Makes Tracker Better MovieStillsDB Tracker’s biggest problem always stemmed from Colter’s aloofness. While the series wouldn’t exist without Colter’s survivalist skills, his repeated refusals to spend time with family and friends beyond any case have long constituted a problem for the show, as being alone for the majority of his time doesn’t let him progress as a character. It’s undeniable that Colter took a step in the right direction in Tracker season 3 when he kept tabs on Reenie more frequently and opened up to Keaton by welcoming him to his home, but Colter has yet to be seen spending consecutive days with others. Colter mentoring Charlie in the future would solve this problem in multiple ways. Indeed, the choice to train Charlie would have to be an active one that only Colter could make, without anyone forcing him, or it wouldn't work. Teaching Charlie his ways could also help Colter exorcize his past. After all, Colter didn’t have the option to decide whether he wanted to be a survivalist, as Ashton forced the training on him and Russell. Instead, Colter gave Charlie an opportunity to meet again in the future, leaving him the choice that Colter never had. Colter training Charlie would let him finally become a teacher. All the times Colter collaborated with other detectives or rewardists in Tracker, they were always his peers. Training someone younger who has never come into contact with that world gives Colter the chance to slow down, as he would have to show Charlie the ropes as they investigated a case. At the same time, teaching can show a different side of Colter, one previously unseen, as he never found himself in a position to impart knowledge to someone else. Charlie Allows Colter To Retire With A Successor CBS Colter and his dedication to his rewardist job have always been at the heart of Tracker. Granted, Colter used his job as an excuse not to form closer bonds with his loved ones at times, but it’s clear that he also loves it and finds it meaningful. Teaching Charlie to become a survivalist can simultaneously give Colter a work partner and a way to leave that life behind eventually. It would be the perfect ending storyline for Tracker, as it leaves Colter with a successor, and one who chose that life at that. Tracker’s procedural format guarantees that, for as long as it airs, there have to be weekly cases to follow. However, whenever the time comes for it to end, Tracker will need to set up a rewarding farewell for Colter. Letting him continue with his job wouldn’t be a satisfying outcome, as that is what we have always seen Colter do. Given how intrinsically connected the skills Ashton forced him to learn and the outcome of becoming a rewardist are, it would be unlikely for Colter’s happily ever after to include continuing to be a rewardist, as it wouldn't show growth. Having a rewardist Colter trained take over for him would be the perfect ending for Tracker, as it guarantees that his successor would not only continue the profession, but also preserve the values Colter had passed down to him. Tracker being in its fourth season makes the crime drama tackling this storyline soon extremely unlikely. However, it’s good to know that Tracker season 4 set it up, as the show can take it up again whenever its end is close, giving Colter the best possible end to his story. Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for my weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series. Release Date February 11, 2024 Network CBS Showrunner Elwood Reid Writers Ben H. Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham Creator(s) Ben H. Winters